Geigern.
/ˈɡʌɪɡə/ a. Geiger counter n. [counter n.2 3b] an instrument for detecting and counting ionizing radiation, used esp. for measuring radioactivity; it consists essentially of a wire anode surrounded by a cylindrical cathode in a chamber containing gas at low pressure. Also Geiger–Müller counter.
ΚΠ
1924 Sci. Abstr. A. 27 295 (title) The Geiger counter as a sensitive detector of X-radiation.
1926 Physical Rev. 27 111 A study of Geiger counting chambers has been made.
1930 Physical Rev. 35 651 (title) Multiple coincidences of Geiger-Müller tube-counters.
1945 Electronic Engin. 17 612/2 An improved circuit..for reading the rate of pulses from a Geiger-Müller counter.
1951 New Biol. 10 34 A single particle or γ-ray passing through a Geiger-Muller counter triggers off an electrical discharge which can be amplified to work an electrical and mechanical relay counter.
1956 ‘N. Shute’ Beyond Black Stump 1 A number of substances that are trapped in the earth's centre will influence a Geiger counter sufficiently to set it clicking.
1957 M. Lowry Let. 4 Apr. (1967) 406 When the last old sourdough has traded in his divining rod and gold sifting pan for a geiger counter.
b. figurative.
ΚΠ
1957 London Mag. June 65 We do not feel inclined to treat political beliefs as geiger counters by which we can measure the significance of events as they occur.
1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 24 Apr. 246/5 Dr. Simon runs his Geiger counter over the writings of Bernard Shaw to detect the educationist beneath the playwright and pamphleteer.
1961 John o' London's 12 Oct. 423/3 A sadistic gangster story..at times, unless my moral geiger counter deceived me, rather slanted, sympathy-wise, towards the gang.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1972; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
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n.1924